FRANK ZAPPA Hot Rats 69 Reprise SUPERB RARER US EX++ LP

	£		53
	$		70

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Artist or Band: FRANK ZAPPA

Album Title: Hot Rats.

Producer(s): Frank Zappa who composed and arranged all songs.

Engineer(s): Dick Kunc.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Peaches en Regalia; Willie the Pimp; Son of Mr Green Genes.

Side 2: Little Umbrellas; The Gumbo Variations; It Must Be a Camel.

Country of Manufacture: US.

Label/Format: Reprise – Deep tan format with very deep inner ring ridge (please see my label scan).

Label Conditions: Both look almost factory fresh with barely a spindle mark to be seen.

Cat Number: RS 6356.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Weight of this Record: 121 grams. A more typical and actually above average weight for a US-made copy.

Rarity: US copies of this masterwork are actually more elusive than UK pressings. Bizarrely, this failed to sell well in his native US but did well here. Finding US copies in such wonderful clean, barely played condition is even harder, especially with such a stunning cover that has NO punches, cuts or any deletion or import strikes.

Original Year of Release: 1969

Matrix Nos: RS 6356 - 30926-1-G2 #3 / RS - 2 - 6356 - G2 #2 1 - G2 (MASTERED BY CAPITOL)

Musicians: Frank Zappa - Guitar, octave bass, percussion; Ian Underwood - piano, organus maximus, flute, all clarinets, all saxes; Captain Beefheart - vocal on ‘Willie the Pimp’; Sugar Cane Harris - violin; Jean luc Ponty - violin; John Guerin - drums; Ron Selico - drums; Max Bennett - bass; Shuggy Otis - bass.

Brief Artist & Album Info: The greatest moustache in rock history and THE album that proved to the world that Frank Zappa was one of the greatest guitarists of all time – if not THE best. A point proven over many years of quality albums, not just a small few. At the end of 1968 Zappa’s contract with MGM expired, he and his manager Herb Cohen set up Bizarre Records. This gave them total control over their own packaging and music. Major distribution was needed too, so they chose Reprise, Frank Sinatra’s label which had recently been acquired by Warner Brothers. Hot Rats was the second album to be accredited to Frank Zappa, he used a 16-track recorder and state-of-the-art production techniques, making this a musical extravaganza with truly phenomenal sound and detail. This was quite a successful album in the UK, but mysteriously was a relative failure in his native US, thus American issues are quite elusive especially seen abroad. This is a jazz-rock, predominately instrumental album and (for me anyway) one of the greatest albums ever made - I simply adore this record and I have probably heard this more times than any other (not this copy hasten to add, just the once for a mandatory play grade). Zappa called upon the services of some of the great musicians of the West Coast. Don ‘Sugarcane’ Harris features heavily on electric violin with some blistering solos as does French violin virtuoso Jean luc Ponty. Also featured are veteran bassist Max Bennett, John Guerin a young drummer who had been working with Tom Scott on fusing rock and jazz, with Shuggy Otis, Ron Selico and Paul Humphrey. Zappa supplied himself with the finest rhythm section money could buy. The other hugely important presence was fellow-Mother Ian Underwood, who played keyboards and electric saxes. This is one of Underwood’s finest moments recording with Zappa, his blistering electric saxophone solo on ‘The Gumbo Variations’ takes the breath away. Last but not least there is a cameo performance from Don van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart on vocals for ‘Willie the Pimp’ the lyrics of which are derived from an interview Zappa conducted with a New York-based groupie named Annie. Zappa himself plunges into an awe-inspiring guitar solo. His wah-wah pedal made the notes talk, but amongst the frenzy there remains a marvellous melody throughout. Frank dubbed in percussion, chains, castanets that added that extra fizz and Underwood is credited for playing ‘organus maximus’ which was actually a pipe organ. The cover is as famous as the music too, it features Christine Frka (Miss Christine) of the infamous GTO’s lurking inside a disused swimming pool in Beverly Hills. A striking image that was seen under many an arm in the heady days of the late 60s. She is often credited as the inspiration for the Alice Cooper look, both recorded on Zappa’s Straight label. A notably thin Czech girl, she sadly she died in 1972. ‘Hot Rats’ charted at 9 in the UK and a miserly 173 in the US. A work of genius that must have opened many eyes, ears and minds on it’s issue. Even non-Zappa fans who simply never understood his music often appreciated this album. Anyone who likes electric guitar cannot fail to be impressed by this blistering set. Some rock guitarists have been quoted as saying Hot Rats contains impossible to play guitar chords, well this great man played them, and how. This easily ranks in my top 10 greatest albums ever made, I never tire listening to it and this wonderful vintage copy is a real beauty. It plays beautifully with all the detail and dynamics of a master-recording, this is the gateway into Zappa’s recording studio itself and nothing – and I mean little will better it. The CD versions are very good but the bass-lines are far less forward on the silver disc and some details seem slightly more muted, even lost. There will never be a better way to enjoy the king of the bizarre than on this record. A timeless excursion into Frank’s world of jazz-rock, the word ‘masterpiece’ is often overused, but not in this case. If you have not experienced the wonderful world of Zappa, there is no better place to start – but be warned – this man’s music is seriously addictive and he has a vast catalogue.A wonderful tribute to the sad recent passing of Don van Vliet – his lifelong friend – the wonderful, irrepressible Captain Beefheart.

I have heard this album on all formats many, many times, and is quite possibly the most played title in my personal collection. This is the first time I have heard a US copy on this label format before and to say it raised my eyebrows is no understatement. The reason?: well the mix to my ears at times sounds quite different with small details and presentation of the music. The mix seems to have even more bass than the UK first issue I recently sold on Ebay. But what struck me immediately are the castanets on ‘Willie the Pimp’. These simply burst from the left channel with more dynamics and detail than I have ever heard before – they sound totally different, with a stunning in-the-room presence – the person playing them could actually be there right next to you and this had immediate impact to a listener who knows just about every note, pitch and tone this record has to offer. For any other listener who knows this masterwork as well as myself, I feel sure they will notice the difference too and this copy really does have an edge over any other I have heard. Difficult to say if it’s actually ‘better’ or not, that’s subjective, it’s just different. Making it a copy for Zappa connoisseurs who want another variation within his vast catalogue.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: Very High, seldom seen without moderate or heavier ringwear, fading and major surface rubbing and grubbiness. The thicker card US versions are even more prone.

Cover Grade and Format: MINT(-), and a near impossible task for this cover from wherever it was made or printed. An unlaminated gatefold format with matt finish and paste-on panels inside the gatefold. It was printed and made in the US. This has the RS 6356 number to match the labels. Some American copies were issue on Bizarre.

Cover Front: Without doubt, one of the best fronts I have seen on this rock masterpiece. This is in simply breathtaking condition and looks little short of factory fresh. Clean, fresh, unrubbed with barely a crease worthy of mention. The only tiny and very faint blemish is a small and very light price sticker residue outline near the top right corner (but look hard). Yes this is an American cover and we all know they often wear badly and are seldom seen devoid of major rubbing and ringwear. But when seen like this, they are a thing of genuine beauty and quite frankly, (no pun intended), this is stunning. The eerie presence of Miss Christine in that swimming pool sets the tone perfectly for this crazy time and era.

Cover Back: Totally incredible, this back looks amazing too with the richest, deepest colour you could ever imagine. In all my years, I don’t think I have ever seen better including many UK examples. Just the faintest trace of a rim rub near the left edge, but look very hard.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Looks almost like new, and note the close-up of the great Captain Beefheart circa his classic 1969 Trout Mask Replica era along with Zappa – two of rock’s greatest ever minds.

Top Edges: Both almost wear-free and both very straight too. Any rub traces are minuscule.

Bottom Edges: Both near perfect and again very straight and clean.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, very sharp with barely any traces of wear or thickening with no feathering or trimming. Record enters on the back edge, the front being closed.

Spine and Text: Apart very slight rub traces, mostly to the very ends, near perfect again. Very solid and quite thick, straight with zero compression. Folded square so both right edges meet up closely and parallel. The text is unworn and all present.

Corners: Any tip rubs are tiny and faint and they retain very fine to excellent shape.

Cover Summary: One of rock’s most famous covers and this is a stunningly attractive example. It has not aged one iota and it should please most-all collectors and even the discerning cover connoisseur can consider this one.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT++: this album includes it’s original $2 dollar order form for a mail-order compilation album from all those years ago. .It has a fine perforated triangular slip at the top that was to be removed to apply for this record. Clearly this unlined inner is fragile and will be seldom seen intact and in such wonderful condition. Barely creased and unaged and all edges secure. Just mild record rim impression that few, if any will avoid. This makes the set complete.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT++ and critically graded at that too with any surface trace blemishes tiny, few and ultra faint. A very strong and eye-pleasing visual copy that is super clean, shiny, intense black and solidly pressed. A copy hardly even played on all the evidence, a better looking and sounding US pressing will prove very difficult to find. With the majority of copies being found badly scratched or well worn, this copy is like a breath of fresh air. For the ‘early-bird’ Zappa fans who bought this from the early days, most played it into submission – imagine the thrill of hearing this masterpiece for the first time – this copy will again remind of that experience. Although recently reissued, NOTHING gives the thrill of an early issue. Hardly any surprise this album as acquired ‘Classic Album’ status and it remains (for me) one of the greatest albums ever made bar none. This album contains musicianship and composition of the highest possible standard and few would have even known the calibre of this man’s brilliance at this time.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippets or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or minuscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality & Audio Grading – The Hot Rats Hi-Fi Experience: This astonishing record plays brilliantly with pristine sound, crank this up loud and prepare to be astonished. A superb pressing with barely a trace of any surface sound at all and no pops or clicks were noted. Both channels are crystal clear and the sound and production are up there with the very best from this period. Zappa spared no expense in recording this, his ‘solo’ masterpiece and the sonic delivery of the music defies it’s substantial age. This copy of Hot Rats will simply make your system sing with totally distortion-free sound. The delicate high frequencies of the electric violins and winds are totally unclipped and simply rasp and fizz from the speakers. Zappa’s frenzied and blistering guitar work is heard to maximum effect and this will leave fans wanting more. Played loudly enough, Underwood’s electric sax solo on ‘The Gumbo Variations’ is almost capable of ripping off the speaker cloth. What set’s this analogue recording apart are the bass-lines which are rich and deep and fully focused and more importantly – present! On this US pressing, they seem ever deeper and the percussion parts as stated above, seem more forward in the mix. The castanets on ‘Willie the Pimp’ especially, and they actually sound very different to these ears. The CD versions are leaner and lack that vital depth, grace and power. My LP12 gave this record real ‘pace’ and rhythm and the total realism will please even the connoisseur listeners. If only all vintage vinyl played like this there would be no need to grade because the astonishing sounds embedded in these totally unworn grooves, that for sure carry just that extra detail and definition, will rarely be heard better. Beefheart’s cameo role on ‘Willie the Pimp’ is famous as he shrieks Hot Meat, Hot Raaaaattttzzzzz, Hot Zitz, Hot Wrists, Hot Ritz, Hot Roots, Hot Sooooottts… this is the album’s only vocal track and it Fizzzessssss, the man’s voice totally unique and rarely sounding better – his loss, although retired for many years, will be sorely missed. This record sounds so clean and special it should appeal to all vinyl lovers and collectors - even discerning audiophiles reading this. This is a ‘keeper’ copy that is unlikely to need upgrading - if treated with the respect it deserves, this record will last another forty+ years and this one has now reached that landmark age. Nothing beats a vinyl copy, this is a very special album indeed – a gateway to his even more challenging works. They don’t make records like this anymore and the spirit of this much-missed musical genius lives on in this monumental work, my musical world has never been quite the same since his sad and untimely death. The PERFECT way to celebrate what would have been his 70th year. The highest possible recommendation is mandatory.

His Legacy: Frank Zappa issued over 60+ official albums in his own lifetime and most I consider essential. Sadly leaving us all too young, it’s such a shame his work, music and talent was only recognised by many after his untimely death, but not unusual for a genius in the arts. But for lifelong fans, his name was known from his early years and lives on forever. Great to see and hear his son Dweezil playing his father’s music to adoring audiences, I was in seventh heaven when I attended the Zappa-Plays-Zappa gig in Cambridge last year and recommend anyone to see him and his brilliant band as soon as possible. With more and more music fans even now discovering the master guitarist and musician’s work, this is the ideal place to start. It simply emphasises the mundane mediocrity around these days, the greatest entertainers in rock refuse to die. In my mind Frank and Don will live forever!!

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, not just bits to guess a grade - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story. I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested collector – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with QED Silver terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Moth vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too.

First-time, zero-rated bidders, who do not ask permission to bid, will be cancelled immediately and blocked – NO exceptions. For winning bidders who I consider excessively slow to make contact or submit payment, I will use my right to block future bids. If any bidder who wins in the final seconds is present to do so, surely they can at least email me to inform of intention and payment method? If swift or prompt payment is a problem, please do not bid.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET - PLEASE SEE MY TYPICAL PACKING BOX PICTURE.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my Moth Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. All records are posted in professional thick boxes (NOT Mailers or Cruciforms, these do not offer maximum protection). The record(s) REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. The boxes are then reinforced with THREE or EVEN FOUR ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. The thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. Please see my picture of a typical finished box packet that will now be used on ALL transactions as from now. I do not profit on posting and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. These boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffners and bubble wrap make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than one in two thousand based on over 6,000+ items sold in over 8 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 3 or 4 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FOUR records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). I will not respond to questions on shipping costs as all the details are included here and on ALL of my adverts. Details below:

NOTE: First Time Bidders: I will cancel ALL first-time bidders with no feedbacks or excessive negatives who do not ask me if its OK to bid first – NO EXCEPTIONS.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder unless prior notice of any delay is given beforehand. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance – it’s always worth asking.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent via Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£40 maximum]) = £9. (insurance optional extra £3). Add £2.50 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£39 maximum]) = £13. Add £4 per extra LP. (insurance optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are time-wasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT necessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.